All Our Problems

He didn’t move nor acknowledge her at all as she tried to slip into his embrace. Unlike every other time she touched him Indigo was not receptive. He didn’t want her affection right now, he wanted to be left to his sorrow, to the huge mountain that lay ahead of them. He worried about the future, with winter coming far too quickly how were they going to keep these puppies alive and safe? He had to focus on them or he would crumble. Aslatiel left him wounded and vulnerable in ways he had never imagined.

His name on her lips as she clung to him, she was trying desperately to garner his attention. Still he didn’t move or even try to hold her, but she nestled herself deeper and begged for his attention. Her words were soft against the thick fur of his mane as she stumbled over an apology. She cried into his fur and spoke softly of her regret and guilt, but words wouldn’t help anything now. He was to blame for everything that happened with Aslatiel, maybe knowing Duch was pregnant was the last straw but that was only part of why she had started to resent him.

Indigo tried not to think about her and everything she said to him, he wanted to forget how much she hated him. But he couldn’t. The one he loved and adored the most absolutely had the power to do just as she had. Aslatiel destroyed him. Literally all he had was surrounding him now. Duchess and their puppies, the precious members of the band, and the goats of the herd.

This was never her intention, he was sure she hadn’t ever meant for him to be hurt. Did she realize how selfish she was being? She continued, wishing she could take it back but further wishing for something worse. Duchess couldn’t even bring herself to say it but he heard Aslatiel’s voice once more. She’d kill Duchess and the tiny babies growing in her womb.

”Don’t.” The first word he’d said to her since her confession. ”Don’t you dare wish harm on a single strand of fur on their heads.” There was a soft growl in his voice, but he was quiet as she was so as not to disturb the sleeping forms around them. Didn’t she knew they were all he had? Aslatiel was gone, his heart was obliterated, they were the only future he had. He shifted then, finally moving so he could find her gaze in the dim moon light. Still refusing to actively embrace her despite her proximity. ”There’s a lot of wishes I would make.” He told her almost sternly, ”But that’s not reality. We’re going to have to step up. Both of us. For them.” He gave her another hard look, unable to soften as he searched her features.

He didn’t even know who he was looking at anymore. Duchess was sweet and kind, she was broken just like him, they shared a deep connection and yet she had done this to him. She broke his trust like Aslatiel broke his heart, and Indigo wasn’t certain how he would recover.

Indigo Arcturus Fatalis